Seven out of nine cabinet ministers of Virbhadra Singh led Govt has ruled out any speculative reports regarding appointment of a “working Chief Minister”.

In a joint statement seven Cabinet ministers Vidya Stokes, Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Sujan Singh Pathania, Power Minister, Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Forest Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries Minister, Sudhir Sharma, Urban Development Minister Prakash Chaudhary, the Excise and Taxation Minister and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said that there was no move to appoint a “working Chief Minister” and there was not even an iota of truth in such reports.

They said “The Congress government has just taken over and reports that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh will be going abroad for treatment are not only false but also mischievous and an attempt to create confusion in the minds of the people,”

They claimed that the government was strong and stable and functioning efficiently and effectively to fulfill the aspirations and expectations of the people. In a short period of one-and-a-half month, it had initiated many pro-people programmes in the state, bringing respite to the people from the ‘misrule’ of the BJP regime.

They said the Chief Minister was hale and hearty and working for over 16 hours a day to serve the people. They blamed political opponents and adversaries for resorting “malicious and mischievous” propaganda against him.

However, names of Health Minister Kaul Singh and Transport Minister GS Bali did not figure in the statement.